DO TIME MANAGEMENT FACTORS IMPEDE STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT? : A CASESTUDY – SOHAR UNIVERSITY, OMAN

Purpose: The objective of the research study is to critically analyze the factors impeding time management towards students’ academic performance achievement. Design/methodology/approach: The study was carried out using a well-defined questionnaire collecting samples from 164 undergraduate students studying in the Faculty of Business, Sohar University, Sultanate of Oman from a population of 700 undergraduate students. For the study, the cluster-sampling method was adopted. SPSS was used to perform the statistical analysis. Findings: The empirical results reveal that none of the claimed factors related to time management influence the academic performance of the students. The students’ performance is purely based on their efforts and on their own self-management. Thus, it was concluded that it is the responsibility of the students to manage their time for which they should make their own plans. Practical Implications: The study confirms that the student's stay at the hostel facilitates them to improve their academic performances. It is also interpreted that the students are carried away by the domestic work during their stay at home, parents should take utmost not to deprived of their time for study. Parents should make necessary arrangements to reduce their travel time. Students should have their own self-control and self-commitment to manage and plan their own time for study purposes. Originality/value: The research work is of its first kind as it focuses on the impact of time management factors on the academic performances of the students

The Association between Chronic Arsenic Exposure and Hypertension: A Meta-Analysis

Background. There is inconclusive evidence from cross-sectional and cohort studies that arsenic exposure is a risk factor involved in the development of hypertension. Methods. A database search, using several keywords, was conducted to identify relevant studies. Separate odds ratio estimates for arsenic exposure with concentration only and arsenic exposure with duration, including biomarker, were extracted from studies that met all inclusion criteria. The extracted odds ratios (OR) comparing the highest exposure categories with the lowest in each study were pooled using the random effects methods of meta-analysis. Heterogeneity of odds ratios in the included studies were analyzed using I2 statistics. Results. Eight studies were analyzed. Using the exposure as arsenic concentration in the drinking water, the OR estimate was 1.9 (95% CI: 1.2–3.0), with the I2 = 92%, while using the exposure as concentration and duration, the OR estimate was 1.4 (95% CI: 0.95–2.0) with the I2 = 80%. Meta-regression was done and the quality of exposure measurement was found to be significantly associated with the effect measure. For a one unit increase in the score from exposure assessment, the odds ratio decreased by 6%. No publication bias was evident. The only major weaknesses of this study were heterogeneity across studies and small sample size. Conclusions. The study findings provide limited evidence for a relationship between arsenic and hypertension. In summary, the relationship between arsenic exposure and hypertension is still inconclusive and needs further validation through prospective cohort studies

The Role of Diet and Gut Microbiota in Regulating Gastrointestinal and Inflammatory Disease

Diet is an important lifestyle factor that is known to contribute in the development of human disease. It is well established that poor diet plays an active role in exacerbating metabolic diseases, such as obesity, diabetes and hypertension. Our understanding of how the immune system drives chronic inflammation and disease pathogenesis has evolved in recent years. However, the contribution of dietary factors to inflammatory conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis and arthritis remain poorly defined. A western diet has been associated as pro-inflammatory, in contrast to traditional dietary patterns that are associated as being anti-inflammatory. This may be due to direct effects of nutrients on immune cell function. Diet may also affect the composition and function of gut microbiota, which consequently affects immunity. In animal models of inflammatory disease, diet may modulate inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract and in other peripheral sites. Despite limitations of animal models, there is now emerging evidence to show that anti-inflammatory effects of diet may translate to human gastrointestinal and inflammatory diseases. However, appropriately designed, larger clinical studies must be conducted to confirm the therapeutic benefit of dietary therapy

Impact of Government Borrowing on Financial Development (A case study of Pakistan)

Private sector of any country plays important role in the economic development of the country. It not only provides employment to the people of the country but also goods and services according to the taste of the people. Private investment depends mainly on private borrowing which proves to be the blood for private sector. Private borrowing or credit to private sector is important part of the financial development which measures the financial depth of it. The aim of this paper therefore, is to investigate the impact of government borrowing from central bank and commercial banks on financial development. In this Paper, government borrowing is used as Public domestic debt while credit to private sector (Private borrowing) is used as financial development. Normally, it is frequently observed that when government borrows more from banks, then less amount left for the private borrowing so in this way volume of private investment declines and this is found in this study. There are some other factors which also affected the private borrowing like, taxes, savings and inflation. This study has been done by using time series data of Pakistan from 1972-2015. ARDL Methodology has been used to investigate the relationship of variables. The data resource has been taken from WDI and the reports of state bank of Pakistan as well as different issues of economic survey of Pakistan

Survival following Treatment of Aortoesophageal Fistula with Dual Esophageal and Aortic Intervention

Aortoesophageal fistulas are a rare but commonly fatal complication of esophageal cancer. Reports of successfully managed cases are few, with high mortality and morbidity usually resulting from failure to control the initial massive haemodynamic insult. We report the case of a 47-year-old Caucasian man with recently diagnosed advanced esophageal cancer who suffered an episode of massive haematemesis. Emergency gastroscopy revealed an arterial bleeding point in the proximal esophagus. A self-expanding metal esophageal stent was placed to achieve initial partial haemostasis. CT angiography confirmed an aortoesophageal fistula. An endoluminal stent device was thus inserted within the thoracic aorta stabilising the bleeding point. The patient subsequently made an uneventful recovery and was discharged on long-term antibiotics for palliative care. He survived for 2 months at home before dying of disseminated malignancy. The successful use of esophageal stenting as a means of achieving haemostasis, allowing time for endovascular intervention, is as yet a relatively unexplored area of management of this rare condition

Impact of Government Borrowing on Financial Development (A case study of Pakistan)

Private sector of any country plays important role in the economic development of the country. It not only provides employment to the people of the country but also goods and services according to the taste of the people. Private investment depends mainly on private borrowing which proves to be the blood for private sector. Private borrowing or credit to private sector is important part of the financial development which measures the financial depth of it. The aim of this paper therefore, is to investigate the impact of government borrowing from central bank and commercial banks on financial development. In this Paper, government borrowing is used as Public domestic debt while credit to private sector (Private borrowing) is used as financial development. Normally, it is frequently observed that when government borrows more from banks, then less amount left for the private borrowing so in this way volume of private investment declines and this is found in this study. There are some other factors which also affected the private borrowing like, taxes, savings and inflation. This study has been done by using time series data of Pakistan from 1972-2015. ARDL Methodology has been used to investigate the relationship of variables. The data resource has been taken from WDI and the reports of state bank of Pakistan as well as different issues of economic survey of Pakistan

Frequency of External Ventricular Drain Related Infection

Objective: To evaluate the frequency of external ventricular drain (EVD) related infections. Material and Methods: This observational study was conducted at the department of Neurosurgery / pathology, Postgraduate medical institute, Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar from July 2014 to December 2014. A total of 18 consecutive patients, who undergone EVD, irrespective of their age and gender were included in the study. Those who had intracranial infection, Cerebrospinal fluid leak (CSF) or revision of EVD (external ventricular drain) were excluded from the study. Results: We had total 18 patients who underwent EVD in the study period. There were 44.4% males and 55.6% females. Their age range was from 1-69 years with the mean age of 40years. Main indication for EVD was intracranial hemorrhage in 55.6% cases. Post EVD infection was observed in 16.6%. Conclusions: We conclude that external ventricular drainage is an effective and quick technique for the management of acutely raised intracranial pressure with dilated ventricular system. The incidence of EVD related infection is significant (16.6%). Early diagnosis is made on the basis of CSF culture, gram staining and routine evaluation for increased white cell count, increased proteins and decrease glucose level. This will help to permit immediate and specific treatment